stix wrote:
I probably am the only one knowing me.
However I have wondered that myself, for instance the CSI section, the third post down, Calibears post, the last post was in November of last year. So not may posters over there. This might be because someone might rather post in the Tech than CSI or they don't realize the CSI is for tracking the cause of the problem.
On the other hand, I just posted in the Tech about my water pump leak, I didnt really think to post in the CSI because Im used to posting a problem in the Tech but then it BECOMES a CSI.
For me, most forum's layout either half ass work or don't work at all. Maybe Im just too ADD to take the time to figure it out. Like a lot of us, we all have been to foorums that are a pain in the ass to navigate. This sie is really easy(compared to most) but there is so much info in the CSI to be soaked up, I forgot about that section until my Stix 500 Rebuild got posted there. As far as how to make the site more navigatable(if that's a word). I could look at the other forums I sometimes frequent and see if I still have one in my favorites that's worth a crap and post a link to it. Not sure that would help, maybe get an idea or two from them.
You make a lot of good points and I share with your frustration I have spend days thinking how I can make the site better especially the non message board part of my site, so much info almost impossible to organize, I have always been reluctant to add more sub forms or categories and sub categories for fear of making it too complicated and further frustrating others to the point where they just leave, I like it when they ask.
You probably have seen this on other sites where they demand you search search search BEFORE creating a new post, you wont see that here, look, search and if you cant find something START ANOTHER POST!!!!!! Asking and getting your answer is most important to me, I have actually been ban from a few sites because I "didnt search" according to them I did search the search does NOT always return what your looking for!
I have also had my posting privileges revoked for not starting the post in the correct category then ban for telling off the admin that was trying to punish me for not posting in the correct area, I tried to tell the dumb ass he is a admin use his powers to move my post to the correct location it only takes 2 seconds to do it, he was more into being barney phife and throwing his weight around than worrying about a sites user getting the info they were seeking, you will never see that happen here number 1 priority here is ensuring people get help keeping data organized is a distant second, most the answers are here just gotta find them.
If anything needs beat into a users head in a forceful Barney Phife way it would be to title your post in a way it will return your info in search if not capturing great search words in the title then at the end of your post throw in a bunch of search words that will help others find your post in the future.
You might be reading post on this site and notice words added at the end of a post many times I have edited others post and added these words to help with future searches, in the old days I would do the "EDITED added search words" now I just add the words I doubt anybody really cares I added "search words" anyways lol
Now go do a search on this site see if you can find your post, pretend your a Pilot owner you suspect your water pump is leaking, what words did you use to find your post, you have the advantage you wrote it.
Would adding FL400 Pilot water pump seal, water pump seal replacement, Pilot water pump, Pilot coolant leak, antifreeze leak help if added to your first post, what would a Pilot owner Google if he had the same problem and was seeking help, then you have to consider this sites built in search if someone uses it looking for answers to the same problem, I think adding the part numbers to the post would also help so if someone Googles the part number looking for the seal kit they stumble onto your post and the discussion about your problem, yeah were all guilty of not adding descriptive helpful search phrases to our post and replies.
You will notice I always try to use the part numbers in my "Parts Page" post so when someone Googles a Honda part number it will show up, if I was smart enough to add the part number to my CSI's they would show up in a search also, for example "changed the crank seals" then add the part numbers to the crank seals somewhere in that reply even if just at the bottom, THEN if someone Googles the seal part numbers they stumble onto this site and or find the seal info they were looking for, adding the seal dimensions would also be a plus, I often search out seals using the dimentions.
If we collaborate on this long enough I am sure we can work out a solution to make this place better more organized and more useful for everybody..